British Doom masters CATHEDRAL are scheduled to appear at Finland`s Helldone Festival. The festival will take place at the Tavastia Club in Helsinki from December 29th to 31st. Alongside CATHEDRAL, labelmates AMORPHIS plus acts such as HIM, KATATONIA and ANATHEMA will rock the house.

The follow-up to 2003's "Far from the Sun", "Eclipse" was recorded at Sonic Pump studios in Helsinki with engineer Nino Laurenne (THUNDERSTONE). The production duties were handled by the band and Marco Hietala (NIGHTWISH) for vocals. The mixing was taken care of by Mikko Karmila (who previously worked with the group on their "Am Universum" CD) at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki.

A new posting has gone up on the band’s official website…"Following their appearance at Scooprock Festival in Mikkeli on Friday, September 15th, Amorphis will play a one-off club gig at Nosturi in Helsinki on Saturday, September 16th. Tickets will go on sale on Friday, July 21st.”

Meanwhile, Eclipse has recently been issued on deluxe gatefold vinyl via Black Lodge Records (under license from Nuclear Blast) and you can pick one up here www.cmdistro.com.

MANNHAI, the Finnish group whose current lineup includes singer Pasi Koskinen (ex-AMORPHIS, AJATTARA), have uploaded their video for the song "Spaceball" at this location. The clip was directed and edited by Jari Koskinen, while the colors and graphic editing were handled by Jukka Mikander.

"Spaceball" comes off MANNHAI's latest CD, "Hellroad Caravan", which was released in continental Europe on Monday (June 26) via Dockyard 1. The CD, which was issued in Finland on February 15, was recorded at Jive Studios in Helsinki and was described by the band as "heavier and more guitar-driven" than the group's previous album, 2004's "The Exploder".

The "Spaceball" single entered Finland's national single chart at position No. 1 back in January.

The 11th edition of the Brutal Assault festival is scheduled for August 10th - 12th in Svojsice U Prelouce (100 km east of Prague), Czech Republic.

Organizers have issued the following update:

This year’s event promises more impressive expansion and confirms that the organizers don’t intend to stagnate. On the contrary, from year to year, the festival’s program is more and more various and promises more and more foreign metal crowd-pullers for the fans of promiscuous extreme genres. Thanks to the participation of many first-rate metal bands, this event aspires to become a major metal festival in central Europe.

It’s difficult to say which band can be branded as the headliner because this year’s lineup offers up several giants of the metal genre.

Great attraction, especially for fans of atmospheric or symphonic black metal are Norwegians black metal gurus DIMMU BORGIR. In their case we can look for a frosty and dark concert experience.

The next exclusive guest comes from the USA. FEAR FACTORY, who were well known as a representatives of dehumanized cyber metal, but nowadays they come with a new actual face of the year 2006. More...

Norwegian legends MAYHEM have been confirmed for the Gates of Metal festival, set to take place August 4-5 at at Folkets Park in Hultsfred, Sweden. The festival billing is shaping up as follows (in alphabetical order):

VENOM, CELTIC FROST and OPETH are among the confirmed bands for the ninth annual Tuska Open Air Metal Festival, set to take place June 20 – July 2 at Kaisaniemi Park in Helsinki, Finland. A total of 32 bands will perform on three stages over the course of three days. In addition, a couple of dozen bands will be appearing at the infamous evening clubs during the three-day festival run. The festival billing is shaping up as follows: More...

Ministry and Helloween have been confirmed as the headliners of the Gates of Metal festival, set to take place August 4-5 at at Folkets Park in Hultsfred, Sweden. The festival billing is shaping up as follows:

Ministry Helloween AmorphisSavage CircusLumskThryfing

Around 16 bands will perform over the course of the two days, with 5,000 tickets scheduled to be released on February 16, priced at 666 SEK!

AMORPHIS' video for their new single, "House of Sleep", has been posted online at NuclearBlast.de (Real Media). The single, which recently entered the Finnish single chart at position No. 1, comes off the group's new album, "Eclipse", due on February 17 via Nuclear Blast Records. A pre-release listening session for "Eclipse" will be held at NightLife Rock Club in Helsinki (Helsinginkatu 25) on Friday, February 3 at 9:00 p.m. The cover artwork for "Eclipse" was created by Travis Smith, who is renowned for his collaborations with OPETH, ANATHEMA, KATATONIA, ICED EARTH and numerous others. The follow-up to last year's "Far from the Sun" was recorded at Sonic Pump studios in Helsinki with engineer Nino Laurenne (THUNDERSTONE). The production duties were handled by the band and Marco Hietala (NIGHTWISH) for vocals. The mixing was taken care of by Mikko Karmila (who previously worked with the group on their "Am Universum" CD) at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki. The first pressing of "Eclipse" will be a limited digipack edition featuring the bonus track "Stonewoman".

AMORPHIS will celebrate the release of "Eclipse" with a live appearance at the second annual Finnish Metal Expo, which will take place on February 17-18, 2006 at Kaapelitehdas in Helsinki, Finland. A Finnish tour will follow in March.

Amorphis will release their new album, "Eclipse," on February 17. The album was produced by the band and Marco Hietala. Following the "Eclipse" release gig at the Finnish Metal Expo in Helsinki on February 18, Amorphis will embark on a Finnish tour in March. The dates are as follows:

Jeff Walker of Carcass will be releasing an album of country cover songs ranging from Johnny Cash to Hank Williams. For the album, entitled "Welcome to Carcass Cuntry", Walker has enlisted the help of friends from bands such as Napalm Death, Amorphis, Faith No More, The Hellacopters, and his own band, Carcass.

"Welcome to Carcass Cuntry" will be released late Februrary or late March 2006 through Transmitter Records.

Eclipse" is scheduled for release on February 10. The follow-up to last year's "Far from the Sun" was recorded at Sonic Pump studios in Helsinki with engineer Nino Laurenne (THUNDERSTONE). The production duties were handled by the band and Marco Hietala (NIGHTWISH) for vocals. The mixing was taken care of by Mikko Karmila (who previously worked with the group on their "Am Universum" CD) at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki.

The new album by AMORPHIS, "Eclipse", is set to be relased on February 2nd through Nuclear Blast. Guitarist Esa Holopainen comments on the forthcoming release:

"We just had listening session at Nuclear Blast office and feedback seems to be really positive. I guess we have to organize another session for Finnish reporters but I'm not sure if we have enough money to cover their drinks. Finnish reporters are extremely thirsty. But still, the more they drink, better they like the album! Way to go!"

Amorphis are to call their new album 'Eclipse'. The Finnish metalheads are expected to release this through Nuclear Blast in February.

The band completed the final mix for their new album on Saturday, September 24 at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki with Mikko Karmila (who previously worked with the group on their "Am Universum" CD). The follow-up to last year's "Far from the Sun" was recorded at Sonic Pump studios in Helsinki with engineer Nino Laurenne (THUNDERSTONE). The production duties were handled by the band and Marco Hietala (NIGHTWISH) for vocals.

Finland's AMORPHIS completed the final mix for their new album on Saturday, September 24 at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki with Mikko Karmila (who previously worked with the group on their "Am Universum" CD). The follow-up to last year's "Far from the Sun" was recorded at Sonic Pump studios in Helsinki with engineer Nino Laurenne (THUNDERSTONE). The production duties were handled by the band and Marco Hietala (NIGHTWISH) for vocals.

Commented bassist Niclas Etelävuori: "[The new CD is] atmospheric and heavy. Tomi Joutsen did a fantastic job on the vocals, he's doing clean vocals and growling like never before. We all feel very strong about this album; we can't wait for people to hear it."

The as-yet-untitled effort will be released worldwide in February 2006 by Nuclear Blast.

Amorphis recently entered the Sonic Pump studios in Helsinki to start the recording process for their follow-up to last year's "Far From The Sun," tentatively due in early 2006. Producers the effort are Nino Laurenne (Thunderstone) for instruments and Marco Hietala (Nightwish) for vocals. Mikko Karmila, who has previously worked with Stratovarius, Nightwish, Edguy, Lullacry and many others, will take care of the mixing.

"The new Amorphis material will be heavier than ever", the band explained in a statement. "There will be an epic theme through the album, influenced by Finnish tradition."

Finnish rockers AMORPHIS are intensively rehearsing and writing new songs for their follow-up to last year's "Far from the Sun", tentatively due in late 2005/early 2006 via Nuclear Blast Records. On July 1, the band will enter the Sonic Pump studios in Helsinki to start the recording process. Producers will be Nino Laurenne (THUNDERSTONE) for instruments and Marco Hietala (NIGHTWISH) for vocals. Mikko Karmila, who has previously worked with STRATOVARIUS, NIGHTWISH, EDGUY, LULLACRY and many others, will take care of the mixing.

"The new AMORPHIS material will be heavier than ever", the band explained in a statement. "There will be an epic theme through the album, influenced by Finnish tradition."

Finnish rockers Amorphis are intensively rehearsing and writing new songs for their upcoming album at the moment. On July 1st, the band will enter the Sonic Pump studios in Helsinki to start the recording process. Producers will be Nino Laurenne (Thunderstone) for instruments and Marco Hietala (Nightwish) for vocals. Mikko Karmila, who already worked for Stratovarius, Nightwish, Edguy, Lullacry) and many others, will take care of the mixing afterwards.

"The new Amorphis material will be heavier than ever", the band explains. "There will be an epic theme thru the album, influenced by Finnish tradition."

Nuclear Blast is very proud to announce that Finnish rockers Amorphis are now officially signed to the label!

This is what guitar player Esa Holopainen states about the "home-coming":

Last year was quite difficult for Amorphis, we went through another line-up change as we decided that it’s better if Mr. Koskinen leaves the band. We had problems with trying to promote our "Far From The Sun" album as we were working with partners who rather enjoyed nice cappucinos than would actually work.

Anyway, finding a new vocalist was tough, it was more difficult than we actually would have imagined. We actually thought about doing instrumental album when one of Mr. Koivusaari’s friend told about their singer Tomi who is really talented and would fit us. The day he came over we were all proved that Tomi Joutsen is next Amorphis singer. We went through 'Against Widows', 'Alone' and few other songs including 'Sign From The North Side', which is from our debut album. This is the song we also do live again!

Beside changing vocalist we changed management and sat down think about how to continue from here. We allready composed songs for forthcoming album and started to work with vocals. We thought about different options and all agreed that it’s better if we stuck with basics and go back to were we once started. We have been really good friends with Nuclear Blast dudes for over ten years and I remember talking with Markus at Summer Breeze festival over a year ago and he told that we should come back.

During the past years we have became really cynic with labels most of because 95% of all talk is bullshit and they give you promises that they can’t keep. We knew that we could always call up the NB guys with whatever matter and we knew how they work. Plus which is the most important thing that these guys are true fans of the music what they put out. I guess the honesty for the music what you release pays you back which has been the case for the Nuclear Blast's success.

So, we are now ofiicially signed back to Nuclear Blast and I have to say that it feels really good and is a great relief. And for the people who wonder how Amorphis sounds today: It’s EPIC, HEAVY and MELODIC with a mixture of GROWLING VOCALS!!!

Canadian progressive death metal band INTO ETERNITY resume their Canadian tour today in Winnipeg. Although members of the band are still ailing from prolonged bouts with strep throat and pneumonia, they have vowed to bring their intense live show to dedicated audiences.

INTO ETERNITY was forced to cancel several of their late March appearances supporting Amorphis after guitarist Rob Doherty sought emergency medical treatment in Atlanta. Diagnosed with pneumonia and advised to enter the hospital, the band immediately returned to Canada where Doherty, vocalist Stu Block, and guitarist/vocalist Tim Roth (who played shows with fevers topping 104° F) were all treated for pneumonia. You can read Rob’s full account here.

INTO ETERNITY are touring in support of their critically acclaimed album Buried In Oblivion. In addition to their tour with Amorphis, the band will be touring the U.S. this summer with Hate Eternal, Krisiun, Incantation, and All Shall Perish and this fall with power metal masters Stratovarius.